adulterate | to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value |
| ambidextrous | 1. able to use both hands equally well; 2. very skillful; 3. hypocritical |
| augment | to make larger, increase |
| bereft | 1. deprived of; made unhappy through a loss |
| deploy | 1. to position or arrange; 2. to utilize |
| dour | stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored |
| fortitude | courage in facing difficulties |
| gape | to stare with open mouth; to open wide |
| gibe | (v.) to utter taunting words; (n.) an expression of scorn |
| guise | an external appearance, cover, mask |
| insidious | intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous |
| intimation | a hint, indirect suggestion |
| opulent | wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose |
| pliable | 1. easily bent, flexible; 2. easily influenced |
| reiterate | to say again, repeat |
| stolid | not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive |
| tentative | experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant |
| unkempt | 1. not combed; untidy; 2. rude, unpolished |
| verbatim | word for word; exactly as written or spoken |
| warily | cautiously, with great care. |
| adroit | skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind |
| amicable | friendly, neighborly |
| averse | opposed, unwilling; having a deep-seated distaste |
| belligerent | given to fighting, warlike; aggressive |
| benevolent | well-meaning, charitable, kindly |
| cursory | hasty, not thorough |
| duplicity | treachery, deceitfulness, fraud |
| extol | to praise excessively |
| feasible | possible, able to be done |
| grimace | facial distortion, pained expression |
| holocaust | a large-scale destruction, especially by fire |
| impervious | resistant; not affected or hurt by |
| impetus | impulse, stimulus, incentive |
| jeopardy | danger |
| meticulous | extremely careful; particular about details |
| nostalgia | desire for something in the past |
| quintessence | the most typical example |
| retrogress | to return to an earlier condition |
| scrutinize | to examine closely |
| tepid | lukewarm; unenthusiastic |
| adversary | an enemy, opponent |
| alienate | to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile |
| artifice | 1. a skillful or ingenious device; 2. clever trick; 3. clever skill |
| coerce | to compel, force |
| craven | 1. (adj.) cowardly; 2. (n). coward |
| culinary | of or related to cooking or the kitchen |
| delete | to erase, wipe out |
| demise | a death, especially of a person in a high position |
| exhilarate | to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to |
| fallow (adj.) | 1. plowed but not seeded; 2. inactive; 3. reddish-yellow |
| harass | 1. to disturb, worry; 2. to trouble by repeated attacks |
| inclement | 1. stormy, harsh; 2. severe in attitude or action |
| muse | to think about in a dreamy way, ponder |
| negligible | so unimportant that it can be disregarded |
| perpetuate | to make permanent or long lasting |
| precedent | an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action |
| punitive | inflicting or aiming at punishment |
| redress | 1. (v.) to set right, remedy; 2. (n.) relief from wrong or injury |
| sojourn | 1. (n.) a temporary stay; 2. (v.) to stay for a time |
| urbane | refined in manner or style, suave |
| affiliated | associated, connected |
| ascertain | to find out |
| attainment | an accomplishment, the act of achieving |
| bequeath | to give or pass on as an inheritance |
| cogent | relevant, to the point; convincing |
| converge | move toward one point |
| disperse | to scatter, spread far and wide |
| esteem | to regard highly |
| expunge | to erase, obliterate, destroy |
| finite | 1. having limits; 2. lasting for a limited time. |
| invulnerable | 1. not able to be wounded or hurt; 2. shielded against attack |
| malevolent | spiteful, showing ill will |
| nonchalant | cool and confident, unconcerned |
| omniscient | knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding |
| panacea | a remedy for all ills; cure all |
| scrupulous | 1. exact, careful, meticulous; 2. having high moral standards, principled |
| skulk | 1. to move about stealthily; 2. to lie in hiding |
| supercilious | 1. proud and contemptuous; 2. showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority |
| uncanny | strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation |
| venial | easily excused; pardonable |
| altruistic | unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others |
| assent | 1. (v.) to express agreement; 2. (n.) agreement |
| benefactor | one who does good to others |
| chivalrous | marked by honor, courtesy, and courage |
| clemency | mercy, humaneness |
| dearth | a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply |
| diffident | shy, lacking self-confidence |
| discrepancy | 1. a difference; 2. lack of agreement |
| embark | 1. to make a start; 2. to go aboard |
| facile | 1. easily done or attained, effortless; 2. fluent; 3. superficial |
| indomitable | unconquerable, unbeatable |
| infallible | free from error, perfect |
| plod | to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly |
| pungent | causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting |
| remiss | neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless |
| repose | 1. (v.) to rest; 2. (n.) relaxation, peace of mind |
| temerity | boldness, rashness |
| truculent | fierce and cruel; aggressive |
| unfeigned | sincere, real, without pretense |
| virulent | 1. extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous; 2. hateful, spiteful |
| accede | 1. to agree or assent; 2. submit or yield to another's wish or opinion; 3. to assume an office |
| brandish | To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly |
| comprise | to include; contain |
| deft | skillful, nimble |
| destitute | deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in |
| explicit | definite, clearly stated |
| extirpate | 1. to destroy totally; 2. to tear up by the roots |
| inopportune | coming at a bad time; not appropriate |
| ironic | contrary to what was expected or intended; sarcastic |
| musty | stale, moldy; out-of-date |
| officious | meddling; excessively forward in offering services |
| ominous | unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen |
| pinnacle | a high peak or point |
| premeditated | considered beforehand, deliberately planned |
| rampant | growing without check, running wild |
| solace | comfort, relief |
| stately | dignified, majestic |
| supple | 1. bending easily; 2. adaptable; 3. servile |
| suppress | to stop by force, put down |
| venal | open to or marked by bribery or corruption |
| abhor | to hate deeply |
| amend | to change for the better |
| buffet | 1. (v.) to slap or cuff; 2. (v.) to drive or force with blows; 3 (n.) a slap, blow |
| chaos | great confusion, disorder |
| commodious | roomy, spacious |
| corrosive | 1. eating away gradually, acidlike; 2. bitterly sarcastic |
| discern | to see clearly, recognize |
| extant | still existing; not exterminated, destroyed or lost |
| implicate | to involve in; to connect with or be related to |
| inter | to bury |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules |
| obviate | to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of |
| renegade | one who leaves a group; deserter, outlaw |
| reprehensible | deserving blame or punishment |
| somber | dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit |
| squalid | filthy, wretched, debased |
| turbulent | disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy |
| vociferous | loud and noisy |
| voluminous | 1. of great size; numerous; 2. writing or speaking at great length |
| waive | to do without, give up voluntarily |
| animosity | strong dislike; bitter hostility |
| apathy | lack of feeling, emotion, or interest |
| apprehensive | fearful or anxious, especially about the future |
| commend | 1. to praise, express approval; 2. to commit to the care of |
| compatible | able to get along or work well together |
| condolence | an expression of sympathy |
| consecrate | 1. to make sacred, hallow; 2. to set apart for a special purpose |
| decrepit | old and feeble; worn-out, ruined |
| deride | to ridicule, laugh at with contempt |
| ingenuous | innocent, simple; frank, sincere |
| multifarious | having great variety; numerous and diverse |
| obsolete | out-of-date, no longer in use |
| omnivorous | eating every kind of food |
| parsimonious | stingy, miserly |
| quandary | state of perplexity or doubt |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority |
| reprisal | an injury done in return for injury; retaliation |
| revel | 1. (v.) to take great pleasure in; 2. (n.) wild celebration |
| stultify | to make ineffective or useless |
| suave | smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses |
| allocate | to set apart or designate for a special purpose; to distribute |
| ardent | very enthusiastic, impassioned |
| assiduous | persistent, attentive, diligent |
| brash | prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent |
| capricious | subject to whims or passing fancies |
| chastise | to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction; to scold severely |
| copious | abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose |
| deviate | 1. (v.) to turn aside; to stray from a norm 2. (n.) one who departs from a norm |
| exult | to rejoice greatly |
| emaciated | unnaturally thin |
| gnarled | knotted, twisted, lumpy |
| indemnity | a payment for damage or loss |
| inkling | a hint; a vague notion |
| limpid | clear, transparent; readily understood |
| omnipotent | almighty, having unlimited power or authority |
| palatable | agreeable to the taste or one's sensibilities; suitable for consumption |
| poignant | deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell |
| rancor | bitter resentment or ill-will |
| sophomoric | immature and overconfident; conceited |
| spontaneous | arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance |
| acquiesce | to accept without protest; to agree or submit |
| allure | to entice, tempt |
| askew | twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly |
| blithe | 1. cheerful, lighthearted; 2. casual, unconcerned |
| contentious | quarrelsome, inclined to argue |
| covet | to desire something belonging to another |
| crestfallen | discouraged, dejected, downcast |
| disheveled | rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder |
| exponent | one who advocates, speaks for, explains, or interprets |
| garrulous | given to much talking, tediously chatty |
| insuperable | incapable of being overcome |
| lamentable | to be regretted or pitied |
| misnomer | an unsuitable or misleading name |
| profess | to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, pretend |
| respite | a period of relief or rest |
| retribution | 1. repayment; 2. deserved punishment |
| sinuous | 1. winding, having many curves; 2. lithe and flexible |
| sonorous | 1. full, deep, or rich in sound; 2. impressive in style |
| vanguard | 1. the foremost part of an army; 2. the leading position in any field |
| wastrel | a wasteful person; a good-for-nothing |
| allude | to refer to casually or indirectly |
| clairvoyant | 1. (adj.) supernaturally perceptive; 2. (n.) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer |
| conclusive | serving to settle an issue; final |
| disreputable | not respectable, not esteemed |
| endemic | native or confined to a particular region or people |
| exemplary | worthy of imitation, commendable; serving as a model |
| fathom | to understand, get to the bottom of |
| guile | treacherous cunning, deceit |
| integrity | honesty, high moral standards |
| itinerary | a route of travel; a record of travel; a guidebook |
| misconstrue | to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of |
| obnoxious | highly offensive, arousing strong dislike |
| placate | to appease, soothe, pacify |
| placid | calm, peaceful |
| plagiarism | passing off or using as one's own the writing of another person |
| potent | powerful; highly effective |
| pretext | a false reason, deceptive excuse |
| protrude | to stick out, thrust forth |
| stark | harsh, unrelieved, desolate |
| superficial | on or near the surface; concerned with or understanding only what is on the surface, shallow |
| abjure | to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun |
| acrid | harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper |
| august | majestic, inspiring admiration and respect |
| callous | emotionally hardened, unfeeling |
| clandestine | secret, concealed; underhanded |
| compunction | remorse, regret |
| conflagration | a large destructive fire |
| elated | in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased |
| indelible | not able to be erased or removed; memorable |
| indulgent | yielding to the wishes or demands of others |
| inveterate | firmly established, long-standing; habitual |
| irrelevant | not to the point, not applicable or pertinent |
| nocturnal | of or occurring in the night; under cover of darkness |
| platitude | a commonplace, stale, or trite remark |
| quell | to subdue, put down forcibly |
| quiescent | inactive; at rest |
| ruminate | to meditate, think about at length |
| tacit | unspoken, silent; implied, inferred |
| tangible | capable of being touched; real, concrete |
| trenchant | incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut |
| antipathy | strong dislike |
| applicable | appropriate, suitable; capable of being applied |
| asset | something of value; property |
| beset | attack on all sides; harass |
| compassion | sympathy for another's suffering |
| decorum | proper behavior |
| duress | compulsion by threat; forcible confinement |
| exuberant | 1. enthusiastic, high spirited; 2. excessive, abundant |
| facsimile | an exact copy |
| imbibe | to drink; to take in |
| implacable | not able to be satisfied or pacified |
| infinitesimal | tiny, so small that it is almost immeasurable |
| innocuous | harmless; insignificant |
| militate | To have force or influence; bring about an effect or a change |
| patent | (n.) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright |
| prowess | 1. courage, bravery; 2. superior skill or ability |
| sedate | (v.) to administer a tranquilizer; (adj.) quiet, cool and collected |
| stentorian | extremely loud |
| stipulate | to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of |
| ultimatum | final, uncompromising demand or set of terms |
| alacrity | cheerful readiness, willingness |
| alleviate | relieve |
| antithesis | opposite |
| appall | fill with dismay or horror |
| bellicose | warlike, belligerent |
| disparage | belittle; undervalue |
| dissonant | harsh in sound; disagreeing |
| droll | amusingly odd |
| edict | command; an order issued by someone in authority |
| elucidate | to clarify; explain |
| laud | praise |
| loll | act in a lazy manner; to lounge |
| loquacious | talkative |
| magnanimous | generous in forgiving |
| mandatory | required, obligatory |
| nondescript | ordinary; not easily classified |
| phlegmatic | showing little or no emotion |
| rescind | repeal, cancel |
| vivacious | lively, sprightly, full of energy |
| whet | sharpen; stimulate |